School is in Session...

I've been teaching Baby Mae all kinds of great stuff...

How to roll around...

How to throw rocks at the pond...

I can throw really far!

How to climb...

How to slide...

How to swing...

She slept through all of it! One day, she'll really learn to appreciate my knowledge of playgrounds and such. Bring on Spring!

How We Roll...

I love hangin' with my buds Big Sis Ella and Cousin Gavin.

Ella has shown me how to roll around (I can roll from tummy to back already!)....

She's also been more open to holding me (with Daddy's help).

We love hangin' out. It's how we roll.

A Little "Me" Time

Things around here have been a little crazy...

So I've started to take baths in order to get some alone time...

I find them so relaxing...

I often fall asleep... (seriously, almost every time)

Well, so much for that. My big sister keeps showing up and dipping her feet in my tub. What does she think this is the local swim club!?!?
It's okay, I'll share. I'm easy.

Business as Usual...

Ella helps with dinner (snapping string beans w/ Daddy)...

Mae sleeps...

...and sleeps (during the day).

It's like she's always been a part of our little family. Things are good- thank God for coffee!

A few more pix...

Here's Mae coming home from the hospital. It was freezing! For the most part, we covered her with a blanket....

Ella shows us hourly that Mae is "Tiny Tiny Tiny", and we use the hand gestures to make this point clear...

Mae got her first bath...

not her favorite, but she got through it.

A little update.... We took Mae to the doctor, and she's already back up to her birth weight of 7 lb, 1 oz. (The doctor says that usually doesn't happen until they're 2 weeks, but Mae loves the hooch...)

Just a few pix from the hospital....

Look familiar? (see Ella's hospital pix about 2 and 1/2 years ago...)

The Goodman's

Here's the very first photo of our little family... We are so blessed.

Maelle Catherine has arrived! What a first day!

Wednesday morning, I decided it was time to come out and play. So first, at about 2 am, I jumped up and down on the big bag of water, and it broke! Mommy got up, and she and Daddy headed to the hospital. They got there at about 3 am, and I was free in a little more than 2 and a half hours! That was quick! If only I'd known I just had to hop on that bag!

First I got to see what Mommy looks like. I could barely open my eyes, though so I didn't get a good peek.

Then I met Daddy. He seemed cool.

Then, I got to meet the coolest member of the family, Ella Kathleen! I can't wait to play with her and all of her toys! I think it's going to be pretty fun out here! I'm glad I decided to come out early!


Maelle Catherine arrived on 1/7/09 at 5:55 am she's 7 pounds, 1 oz, and 20 inches long. The name Maelle comes from the Gaelic pronounciation of Melia (of O'Melia)- she's Mae for short. The name Catherine is for Catherine Duke, Katie's Nanny (grandmother) who she loved very much- just as we've all fallen in love with Baby Mae! Welcome, little peanut! We love you!

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

For Daddy's birthday this year, Mommy and I made yummy chocolate brownies... I licked the spoon...

I also used my brand new Princess oven to make a strawberry cake.

Daddy LOVED it! Yummy! Mommy kept saying that eating the cake was what good Daddies do. I don't understand what the big deal was, it looked De-Licious!

Happy Birthday, Daddy! I love you! Next year I'll make you ten cakes, and you can eat them all yourself!

Ho Ho Holidays!

On Christmas Eve, we went over to Gavin's house, and opened presents. Not from Santa, but good presents still the same.

Mommy tried to help me....

But I can do it all by myself, I'm not one anymore, you know.

Then, Gavin and I decided to settle in and watch a movie while the big guy made his way over to our houses....

Christmas morning I was so excited, I could barely walk down the steps on my own- so Daddy carried me...

He came! He came! I knew I was good this year! I was REALLY nice to all my friends!

Later, Gavin and I headed in to Grammy's house to see her BIG surprise! A train table! YAY!

One of my favorite things from Santa was my new lap top. Uncle Roo and I checked our email together. I was so glad to visit with my Uncles Andrew and Daniel. They're so funny!

In all, it was a great Christmas! Santa was VERY good to me!

It's Christmas Time in Westwood!

Check me out! I'm getting ready to go to the Christmas Parade in town...

We met Gavin at the parade, and he spent most of his time on Uncle Brendan's shoulders with his light-up sword. He had a blast!

So I tried it with my Daddy. It was pretty fun....

....but I liked being home and warm much better!

There's no place like home for the holidays!

A Baby Sprinkle!!!

Mommy, Daddy, and I went to Gavin's house for brunch, and when we walked in, SURPRISE!!!! A baby sprinkle for my brand new baby!

Mommy was so surprised to find out that I knew the whole time, and kept it a secret like a good girl....

I am so good at keeping secrets. I didn't tell anyone about the time that I put my peanut butter and jelly sandwich in between the couch cushions for later. I wonder if it's still there...

Gav stuck around for the shower. I think he thought there would be bubbles, but there were just baby toys, tiny little clothes, and quiche. He'll learn!

Skills...

Here are a few 3D pix of Baby Goodman. They're probably the best we've gotten so far...

as you can see from this second picture, not only does Baby Goodman medal in backflips, but thumbsucking as well...

5 more weeks to go! (Assuming this kid's on time...)

No picture necessary...

We didn't get the best pix at the ultrasound, but FYI, Baby Goodman weighs in at 4 pounds, 12 ounces. That's a nearly 5 pound baby for those of you who are still goin' metric.
2 weeks left at work (not counting the current week), and then it's down to business. We'll keep everyone posted!

30 Weeks and Counting!

Well folks, we are at 30 weeks, and the baby weighs a whopping 3lb, 7oz. I thought that sounded large, and when I asked the technician what she thought, she gave me a little piece of fun information. Each baby that a woman has tends to be about 8oz larger than her last- as a general rule of thumb. It may be true, I looked it up in Ella's baby book, and she was 2lb, 13oz at this point.

All I can say is that the lady on TLC with like 17 kids must be out of her mind. How much did the youngest weigh? 14 pounds?!?! Geez!

Anyway, stay tuned... It's getting close! Yay!